A confident, empowering woman in music is always makes for a great listen, but to really get a sense of what her message means, it's important to see into her more vulnerable moments, too. Meg Myers takes control of her life in Take Me To The Disco, a record that begins shakily before building up its confidence.

It's hard to initially crack open Take Me To The Disco, as it tries to skirt around the surface initially. Title track 'Take Me To The Disco' opens the record dramatically but with a distinct elation that seems contrary to some of the lyrics; on one end, it seems Myers is lamenting and angry at her former partner, opening the song with "You never knew when I was lonely / You never knew me at all," but by the end is singing "I don't wanna be your enemy but I got to get away / I got to get away," taking herself back and escaping for the better. 'Numb' follows through with more energy, the epic chorus grabbing you in and making her joy yours as well. The same is true of 'Tear Me To Pieces.'

The brilliance behind Take Me To The Disco is that its a gradual bloom. At first it seems so effortlessly rebellious, as if freeing yourself is as simple as saying it, yet as it goes on, it doesn't lose sight of the freedom but gains an understanding of it. Tracks like 'Tourniquet' with its big, spiraling, and haunting tone and 'Little Black Death' provide those moments of realization where it's not as simple as it seems, but that doesn't prevent Myers from going forward. Tracks like 'The Death Of Me,' where she has a wonderful duet with Christian Langdon, and 'Done' with its infectious swagger show that. Yet, it's tracks like 'I'm Not Sorry' that make Take Me To The Disco's story feel real: the quiet piano track cries out to be wanted, even when freedom is what Myers hunted for for so long. That feeling of belonging can never truly be escaped no matter how hard you try Add everything together, and you come to the stripped down end of 'Constant,' which ends uncertain but hopeful, Myers realizing "maybe I'm not alone in this constant side."

Meg Myers takes control of her life in Take Me To The Disco, following an uncertain path to a freedom of love, but surely enough being roped back into it at times even when at her peaks. There's joy and there's desperation on this record; Myers holds nothing back. It's an honest journey, and that's where its power comes from.

Favorite Tracks: Numb, Tear Me To Pieces, Done

Least Favorite Track: Some People

Rating: 78 / 100

Stream or buy Take Me To The Disco on Apple Music, and follow our 2018 Playlist on Spotify: